Chicago Bears fall to Browns in preseason finale: Defensive grades

Linebackers: A

Now for the best position group on the field for the Chicago Bears last night, bar none.

From beginning to end, the linebacking crew was everywhere last night. Lamarr Houston thoroughly dominated every aspect of the game until leaving with that could be another season-ending injury. Here’s hoping that it’s not because that’s the guy the Bears were hoping could make up for Pernell McPhee being hurt. We’ll see.

But aside from him, it was really the Bears’ inside linebackers that stole the show against the Browns.

Nick Kwiatkowski pulled off a sack on an inside blitz, continuing to prove he can do more than stuff running backs in the hole. No, he can definitely destroy quarterbacks too.

And whatever got into Christian Jones coming into this season had better stay there, because he’s looked great. All preseason, he’s played with palpable confidence and understanding of where he needs to be. And when he gets to a ball carrier, he does so with authority. Where’s this guy been the past few years?

Another guy who’s looked remarkably better than last year: John Timu. Typically a missed-tackle machine, Timu has been shooting gaps and finishing plays with regularity this preseason. He did so again last night, registering a sack and two total tackles for loss. It all comes down to a numbers game, but Timu has played like a man who deserves a spot on the roster.